Founded in 1916, Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania has been a leader in environmental conservation in western Pennsylvania. While “Audubon” means “birds” to many people, Audubon members realized early on that their delight in birds would be for naught if habitats were not protected as well as the birds themselves. Thus, Audubon has become involved in all levels of conservation from individual bird species to entire ecosystems.

Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania was for many years simply a gathering of like-minded souls. But in 1942, they became land owners as ornithologist W.E. Clyde Todd sought a caretaker for his beloved family property, now known as Todd Nature Reserve in southeastern Butler County. In the late 1970’s ASWP evolved further as they agreed to take on Beechwood Farms Nature Reserve in northeastern Allegheny County to provide environmental education to the region. ASWP is now the premier environmental education organization in western Pennsylvania–and we still love birds.